This factsheet was developed by YouthREX.

HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS FACTSHEET:

Adapted from Generative AI for Nonprofits: Practical Tips for Starting Small and Building Smart (2025) by Nate Wong for Candid.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to a type of AI that can produce new content, synthesize information, and support a wide range of tasks, drawing from vast existing datasets and the prompts that are inputted – the text-based questions or instructions that a user enters into a generative AI platform to guide its output.

For nonprofits, generative AI is most effective when used to enhance efficiency and advance mission-driven goals, rather than simply to stay current with technology trends.

Exploring generative AI starts not with having all the answers but with a commitment to curiosity, honesty, and care for your mission, your team, and the communities you serve. When used ethically and responsibly, generative AI can deepen human insight, strengthen relationships, and help us learn together how to use technology in service of truth and shared values.

This Factsheet outlines three steps before you begin, three strategies to get started, and four traps to avoid.